District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced a sentencing result involving a repeat offender with 7 prior felony convictions. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison following convictions for his 8th, 9th and 10th felonies and will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison before parole eligibility begins.

Neftali Paduani Jr. 33, from Sparks, pled guilty in June to three felony counts in two separate cases involving charges of Trafficking of a Controlled Substance, 28 Grams or More (Methamphetamine), Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. While committing the above offenses, Neftali was on parole for Burglary and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Based on Neftali’s lengthy criminal record that contained 7 prior felony convictions, inclusive of multiple drug and weapon offenses, burglaries, and participating in a criminal street gang; this office sought and received habitual criminal status for sentencing purposes. Neftali was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 14 years has been served, to be run consecutive to his parole violations.

Neftali was on parole for charges of Burglary and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person when the Sparks Police Department (SPD) identified him as a suspect in a residential burglary involving the theft of numerous guns and rifles. A secret witness tip led SPD detectives to Neftali, who was a neighbor of the victim. Further investigation led to the defendant’s arrest and recovery of the stolen guns. In May, 2017, Neftali made bail and was out of custody when he failed to appear to a district court hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Ultimately, he was located by the Regional Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) driving in the area of Probasco Way. CSU detectives stopped the vehicle and, after a brief struggle, Neftali was taken into custody on the warrant. A search of his vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded .45 caliber handgun in the driver’s side door panel and eight baggies of methamphetamine (totaling 73 gross weight grams) and a digital scale covered with methamphetamine residue. Neftali was arrested and this office filed the additional formal criminal charges against him.

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Nathan MacLellan argued that Neftali is the poster defendant for habitual criminality. Through his history, he was given every chance to rehabilitate and failed to do so. Instead, he continued to perpetuate the methamphetamine crisis in our community by selling the narcotic that he claims led him into his life of crime. If he is at liberty in any community, that community is less safe; just as his neighbors – hard working homeowners in our community – became after Mr. Paduani decided to move in next door and then almost immediately violated the comfort and safety they felt in their own home.